"We're
sitting in a 32-acre SmartZone which is largely vacant at this point,
and we envision that MAREC will help contribute to bringing development
of new industries and technologies together in one common site," says
Interim Director Arnold Boezaart, adding that True North owns the property.

"The City of Muskegon
felt that MAREC's economic development focus had gotten lost and that's
why the city originally agreed to participate in this effort. They saw
it as a means of moving the city forward into development of
alternative energy."

Cook fits
into the picture in a couple of ways: recruiting alternative energy
startups to fill the 4,000 square feet of incubator laboratory space
with companies interested in wind, solar, biowaste, photovoltaics and
other alternative energy opportunities – space which is vacant after
graduating its recent tenant, EarthTronics – and also offering business consultation to those companies.

Boezaart
plans to work with the lakeshore communities and several of GVSU's
departments – including engineering, natural resources and the business
college – to develop opportunities for business leaders, students and
faculty to become integrals parts of MAREC's future alternative and
renewable energy projects.